Skate



(No M61161.) O. A. HINSGH & W. G. PRICE.

SKATE.

Patented Aug. 6, L895.

WITNESSES UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CAROLINE A. HINSCH AND WILLIAM G. PRICE, OF SIOUX CITY, IOWA.

S KATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 544,172, dated August6, 1895. Application filed December 28, 1894; .Serial No. 533,189. I (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, CAROLINE A. HINSOH and WILLLIAM G. PRICE, citizensof the United-States, residing at Sioux City, in the county of Woodburyand State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inSkates; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, andexact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilledin the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

Our invention relates to improvements in skates; and it consists of animproved construction whereby they have an improved spring action underthe feet of the skater, as hereinafter specifically described andclaimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure1 represents a side elevation of a skate embodying our invention andhaving a single spring action. Fig. 2 represents a side elevation ofsaid skate applied to a skaters foot, the split spring-runner beingshown in its compressed position. Fig. 3 represents'aside elevation ofa'modified form of ourinvention in which the skate has a double springaction, and Fig. 4 represents arear elevation of the form of skate shownin Figs. 1 and 2.

A in the drawings represents the sole-plate; B, the clamping devices,and D the runner.-

The sole-plate A is constructed in the ordinary manner and is providedwith any suitable clamping devices by which it may be secured to theskaters foot.

The runner D has its lower edge either flat or concave, as desired, andis made of spring metal. This runner is split longitudinally, so as toform an upper sole-plate-attaching portion 61 and a lower spring-runnerd, the action of the spring metal being to keep said portions normallyseparated, as shown in Fig. 1. The width of the space between theportions at d is greatest at the rear and gradually decreases toward thefront where said split in the runner ends, leaving the forward end ortoe of the runner solid.

The rear end of the portion d is turned upward at right angles, as at dand is provided with a vertical slot 01 closed at the top. The rear end(i of the portion d has its lower edge beveled to form a knife-edge (Zand said end is adapted to be guided vertically by sliding in the slot01 The portion d at the lower end of the slot d is beveled downwardtoward the rear, as at d and thus any snow or ice accumulating in theslot at will be forced or cut out of the same as the portions d 01approach each other by the combined action of the knife-edge d of theportion at and the bevel d of the portiond'.

In Fig. 3 we have shown a'double springrunner. This is constructed insubstantially the same manner as that shown in Fig. 1, with' theexception that the forward end or too portion of the runner is providedwith a projecting nose 01 and the portion d is made higher and is splitfrom the front toward the rear to form an intermediate spring portion (2The forward end (1 as well as the rear end (1 of said runner is turnedupward.- The end (1 is providedwith a vertical slot similar to slot dsaid slot having a beveled bottom similar to d The end d is alsoprovided with a knife-edge similar to edge (i and said end works in'theslot d in exactly the same manner that end 61 works in the slot (1 Thecompression and expansion of the spring-runners as the skater movesalong takes the place of the knee movement necessary in the ordinaryconstruction ofskate, so that nearly all the movement that the skaterneed make to move forward is to sway the body from side to side. As thebody sways or-leans to the right the pressure ison the spring of theright skate, which com-- presses it, as shown in Fig. 2. The left footin the meatime is allowed to drop behind, and as the pressure is removedfrom the spring on the left skate it expands and pushes the skaterforward, and so on vice versa. While this spring action makes a forwardmovement in straight lines very easy, it also is ad- Vantageous forfancy skating in curved lines.

What we claim as our invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

1. In a skate the combination with a suitable sole plate, of a springrunner consisting of a single piece of'me-tal split longitudinallyalonga portion of its length and having said split portions bent apartso as to be normally separated; one of said portions being attached tothe sole plate and the other being free and capable of vertical springmovement, substantially as described.

2. In a skate the combination with a suitable sole plate and clampingdevices, of a spring runner consisting of a single piece of metal splitalong a portion of its length and having said split portions bent apart;one of said portions being attached to the sole plate and the otherbeing free so as to be capable of vertical spring action, and devicesfor guiding the vertical movements of said runner, substantially asdescribed.

3. In a skate the combination with a suitable sole plate and clampingdevices of a spring runner consisting of a single piece of metal splitalong a portion of its length and having said split portions bent apartso as to be capable of vertical spring action, one of said portionsbeing provided with a slotted extension, and the other with a projectingnose adapted to slide and be guided in said slotted extension,substantially as described.

at. In a skate the combination with a suitable sole plate and clampingdevices of a spring runner consisting of a single piece of metal splitalong a portion of its length, and

having said split portions bent apart so as to be capable of verticalspring action, the lower portion being provided with an upwardlyextending slotted portion, the lower wall of the slot being beveled, andthe upper portion being provided with a projecting nose having a knifeedge and adapted to slide and be guided in said upwardly extendingportion, substantially as described.

5. In a skate the combination With a suitable sole plate and clampingdevice of aspring runner consisting of a single piece of metal splitalong a portion of its length from the front toward .the rear, and fromthe rear toward the front so that said runner is capable of verticalspring movement at its forward and rear ends, and devices for guidingthe split portions of the runner in their vertical movements,substantially as described.

In testimony whereof We have affixed our signatures in presence of twoWitnesses.

CAROLINE A. I'lINSCll.

WILLIAM G. PRICE.

\Vitnesses:

ZENIA M. REEVE, HELEN HUNTER.

